2024 National Sports Festival: Bankole Olowookere picks positives from competition

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Olowookere expresses disappointment over the final loss by Team IJA, while acknowledging the valuable lessons learned at the Sports Festival.

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has commended the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation for the opportunity afforded to the National U17 Girls’ team, Team IJA, to participate in the 22nd National Sports Festival currently taking place in Ogun State.

Olowookere’s team, which has already secured qualification for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, faced defeat in the final match of the female football event against Team Delta, following a penalty shootout that extended into sudden death at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex on Tuesday evening.

“First and foremost, I would like to extend my gratitude to the NSC for inviting us to take part, as well as to the NFF. The festival offered us a chance to evaluate some of the new players we have identified through local tournaments and the league. We successfully integrated several of them into our squad.

“Our third goalkeeper played the entire match without conceding a single goal during regulation time throughout the festival. I also commend the defenders for their performance.”

He attributed the loss in the penalty shootout to the goalkeeper’s inexperience, who unfortunately parried the ball into the net instead of deflecting it away. “We have recognized the need to enhance our training in the area of penalty kicks as we prepare for the World Cup.

“Truly, the Team IJA initiative is praiseworthy. We were also able to identify new players from various other States that participated in the female football event.